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''The Knowledge'' is the study of London that a prospective Taxi driver must complete in order to obtain a license to operate a Black Cab in London , the purpose of which is for them to demonstrate that they know the roads, routes and places of London. Because a passing taxi can be hailed on the street the driver is required to know the route immediately rather than stopping to look at a map or ask a controller by radio. Officially, ''The Knowledge'' consists simply of learning 320 routes, referred to as "runs", through central London and knowing the significant Places along those routes including streets, squares, clubs, hospitals, hotels, theatres, government and public buildings, railway stations, police stations, courts, diplomatic buildings, important places of worship, cemeteries, crematoria, parks and open spaces, sports and leisure centres, places of learning, restaurants and historic buildings. In all some 25,000 streets within a six Mile radius of Charing Cross are covered along with the major arterial routes through the rest of London. The 320 routes are contained within the "Blue Book", officially known as the "Guide to Learning the Knowledge of London", which is produced by the Public Carriage Office , which regulates licensed taxis in London. It is the most demanding course of study required by any taxi regulator in the world. On average 34 months of preparation are required before an applicant is considered ready to obtain a license. During their period of training, would-be cabbies usually ride around London on these routes on a Moped which earns them the name of ''knowledge boys'' (or girls). A humorous Film about this learning experience, called ''The Knowledge'', was written by Jack Rosenthal for ITV , and was in 2000 voted number 83 in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes compiled by the British Film Institute . In order to pass ''The Knowledge'' an applicant must have a clean Driving Licence , and no Criminal Record , then first pass a written test, which qualifies them to make an "Appearance". At Appearances, Knowledge Boys/Girls must, without looking at a map, puzzle out the quickest and most sensible route between any two points in metropolitan London that their examiner chooses. For each route the applicant must recite the names of the roads used, when they cross junctions, use roundabouts, make turns, and what is 'alongside' them at each point. It is extremely rare for a driver to reach the required standard in fewer than 10 appearances. Knowledge Boys/Girls and their online learning communities have also recently been the subject of academic research, including a Ph.D. dissertation, by Drew A.R. Ross at Oxford University . There is evidence that training for ''The Knowledge'' can result in measurable physical changes in the brain of a trainee cab driver. See reports by BBC News and Scientific American Frontiers . EXTERNAL LINK
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